Back for autumn 2026, Liverpool’s International Festival of Contemporary Physical Theatre returns

Physical Fest is Liverpool’s international festival of contemporary physical theatre, celebrating some of the world’s most exciting visual and movement-based performance. The week-long celebration brings bold new work from across the globe to the North for the first time, and is produced by Tmesis Theatre – a female-led company from Merseyside, with a diverse international ensemble, passionate about physical theatre.

As part of the vibrant seven-day schedule of performances, workshops and events, Tmesis will also be sharing a first-look at their new show, Demonology – a collaboration with acclaimed Liverpool-based writer Lizzie Nunnery, set in in a remote village in 1590 beset by witches.

Launching on Monday 7th September, Physical Fest 2026 will occupy Liverpool’s home of radical theatre – the Unity – for a full week of performances, whilst workshops, talks & debates will take place at Arts Bar Studios on Hope Street.

Established in 2005, Physical Fest is one of only two dedicated physical theatre festivals in the UK and attracts participants from all over the world with it’s diverse programme – shining a light on physical theatre in all its forms.

“Physical Fest continues to bring some of the finest and most eclectic theatre to the city.”
Liverpool Echo

The performance programme begins on Tuesday 8th September in the company of renowned director, performer and theatre maker, Peta Lilly. Their show Ungirlfriended is full of poignant moments, hilarious twists and snazzy outfits – as wannabe woke ‘cis-het-straight-white-man’ Parker Dee battles back from heartbreak with quirky takes on pop standards and killingly witty original songs.

The following night brings Japanese visual artist Izumi Ashizawa to the Unity stage for “Kurogo Me, Together!” – a piece of participatory performance art where the audience is invited to make the performer “invisible” by putting on the Kurogo costume pieces.

Thursday sees a Double Bill of Clowning, whilst on Friday local playwright Lizzie Nunnery and Tmesis Theatre themselves present Demonology – a powerful new exploration of the stories we inherit and the ones we tell, set in in a remote village in 1590 beset by witches.

The programme at Unity is brought to a fitting close on Saturday 12th September with a Double Bill of pioneering physical theatre shows – a kinetic, cinematic storytelling performance from Zoe McWhinney, Upon A Stale Sun – followed by Pesadilla, a visually breathtaking fusion of dance, circus and physical theatre choreographed by Italian-Belgium choreographer Piergiorgio Milano, that follows an ordinary man trapped inside his own dreams, desperately fighting to stay awake.

Running concurrently is Physical Fest’s programme of Learning and Participation, taking place at The Arts Bar Studios on Hope Street and packed with energy, mischief and world-class talent. From Commedia and Clown to Ensemble work, Japanese performance and even stage diving, this year’s line-up invites artists to get stuck in, take risks and rediscover the joy of physical performance. This is a rare chance to train, play and connect with some of the most exciting practitioners around, happening right here in Liverpool from 7th – 12th September.

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